10 Hangover Cures: Do They Work?

Drinking too much alcohol often leads to fuzzy memories, lapses in good judgment, and a morning-after sensation that's less than pleasant. "The metabolites of the alcohol are the cause of the nausea, fatigue, and headaches, as well as the general sense of slowing," said Alan Weiss, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic Department of Internal Medicine. "Plus, alcohol is a diuretic and makes you urinate out more fluid than you actually take in. That can lead to dehydration, which makes the alcohol metabolites stay around longer in your system and make the hangover worse and last longer."

You've heard about several ways to make yourself feel better — but what really works? Find out which remedies you should try — and which ones are a waste of time.

Eating Some Asparagus

The Journal of Food Science has revealed
that this spring vegetable might be the cure for your post-partying pain. A
study from the Institute
of Medical Science and Jeju National University in South Korea
tested the effect that eating asparagus has on hangovers. The results showed
that amino acids and minerals found in the vegetable can protect liver cells
from toxins. This process can help prevent nausea, fatigue, and
headaches.

Increasing Water Intake

Drinking plenty of water or other hydrating fluids is a simple way to treat hangovers. While it won't offer a complete hangover cure, it definitely helps. "Alcohol thins the blood, which is 70 percent water, so it can affect the fluid balance," said Pete McCall, MS, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise. "Drinking water helps restore necessary fluids and can help the bloodstream and circulatory system carry nutrients and oxygen to the tissue and remove the wastes from a night of excessive consumption."

Nibbling Toast With Honey

This is a traditional method used to treat hangovers, but evidence suggests that any high-carb, high-sugar snack might give you only a temporary boost. "Excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect the metabolism of glucose, so having a snack like this that is high in carbs and sugars (the fructose in the honey) can help elevate blood sugar and provide some immediate energy," said McCall.

Guzzling Sports Drinks

Here again, the extra electrolytes — really just salts and sugars — found in sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade might give them an edge over plain old water to treat a hangover. "Sports drinks will elevate blood glucose and can elevate sodium levels, which help muscle cells uptake and use water, leading to quicker rehydration," said McCall.

Loading Up on Vitamins and Minerals

Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, medical director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association, said that vitamin C and magnesium can help the body break down alcohol and eliminate it from the body, making these two supplements a viable hangover remedy. "One of the most absorbable forms of nutritional magnesium is magnesium citrate powder, which can be taken with hot or cold water," said Dr. Dean.

Sipping a Cup of Joe

The caffeine found in a classic cup of coffee can give you a short-term boost, but its dehydrating effects could limits its effectiveness as a hangover cure, said Dr. Weiss. "Caffeine, which could wake you up, can also dehydrate you, potentially making the situation worse," he said. Though having coffee has only temporary and limited effects, it remains a popular way to initially ease a hangover.

Knocking Back Some Hair of the Dog

"Hair of the dog," or waking up and having another alcoholic drink, may be a feel-good hangover cure (at least temporarily), but this traditional college approach to ease a hangover really doesn't help. "If an individual is planning to be active, recreationally or competitively, this is not a good idea at all," said McCall. "Drinking more alcohol will continue to disrupt blood chemistry and hydration, as well as impair cognitive function and muscular coordination."

Wolfing Down Greasy Food

A greasy breakfast for a hangover remedy may give your body a short-term boost. "Besides glucose, alcohol reduces the amount of circulating free fatty acids in the bloodstream," said McCall. "A breakfast high in carbohydrate and fat content can help to elevate blood glucose and free fatty acid levels in the short term." However, for the long term, it's not such a good idea.

Pushing Through a Workout

Of all the possible and popular hangover cures, experts say that this one works the best, improving circulation and pumping up your mood-boosting hormones. The only hurdle is talking yourself into doing it. If you can, McCall had this advice: "Exercising during a hangover should be limited to low-to-moderate intensity exercise, since the hangover will negatively impact cognitive ability, motor control, and coordination."

Getting Busy in the Bedroom

Here again, a little morning romp may make you feel much better to ease a hangover — if you can psych yourself (and your partner) up for it. "Sex with a hangover may be tough for all of the reasons we have discussed," said Weiss. "I've never seen any data to support its use for hangover, but there is no harm in trying"

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